Headlight attachment.



G. LIGHTFOOT.

HEADLIGHT ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 1211.3, 1914 1,129,106. I Patented Feb.23,1915.

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1 22 W I W M flbl'o'mtfldo CARL LIGHTFOOT, OF WEST UNION, WEST VIRGINIA.

HEADLIGHT ATTACHMENT.

Specificatfon of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application filed April 3, 1914. Serial No. 829,251.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL LIGHTFOOT, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVest Union, in the county of Doddridge and State of West Virginia, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Headlight Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in headlights for vehicles, particularly such as automobiles, and has particular reference to means adapted to remove or eliminate the glare or blinding effect of the light pro duced thereby without perceptibly dimming the same.

My invention is founded upon the discovery, which I believe is mine, namely, that if a relatively small portion ,of an imperforate translucent colored plate, such as translucent colored glass, is arranged to cover the central point of the lens of a headlight, the relatively large portions of the lens outwardly of the colored glass remaining uncovered, the light produced will be much improved, inasmuch as the glare or blinding effect of the same is eliminated, without perceptibly dimming the same.

The invention also consists in the means for retaining the translucent colored plate in the operative position.

An important object of the invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, which are simple in construction,

' inexpensive -to manufacture, and adapted to be used in connection with the ordinary vehicle or automobile headlight, without alteration of the construction thereof.

Other obiects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a headlight showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing a modified form of the invention.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same, Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a headlight. showing a further modified form of myinvention applied thereto. and, Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary elevation of a portion of the securing means shown in Fig. 4.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates a headlight as a whole, comprising a frame 11, holding a lens 12, as shown. This headlight may be of the construction ordinarily employed upon vehicles, such as automobiles. My invention embodies means to be used in connection with this headlight, to remove or eliminate the glare or blinding effect of the same, without perceptibly dimming the light, comprising a preferably fiat imperforate translucent colored plate 13, preferably formed of glass, such as green glass, red glass, or the like. This plate is preferably circular, and in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, is preferably arranged upon the interior of the lens 12, at the central point thereof. The translucent colored glass being relatively small with respect to the lens 12, a relatively large annular poryond the translucent colored glass 13, as shown. In Fig. 1, the translucent colored glass 13. arranged centrally upon the interior surface of the lens 12, is secured thereto by means of cement or the like, preferably arranged along the edge 15 thereof, as shown.

In the modified form of the invention, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the translucent colored plate or glass 13 is preferably arranged upon the exterior of the lens 12, at the center thereof, to cover the central point, such colored plate or glass being held within an annular frame 16, to which are secured radially extending chains 17. As more clearly shown in Fig. 3. the radially extending chains 17 engage with the frame 11, and are secured to an annular holding chain 18, having a retractile coil spring 19 connected therein, whereby this annular holding chain is longitudinally yieldable and extensible. The holding chain 18 is adapted to surround the body portion of the headlight, and due to the presence of the retractile coil spring 19, the same may be readily removed from the headlight by being passed over the frame 11.

In the form of the invention, shown in Fig. 1, the colored translucent plate or glass 13 is preferably arranged exteriorly of the lens 12,- and is held in the proper central position with respect to the lens by an annular frame 20, from which extend radial arms 21, as shown. These arms 21 are provided tion 14 of the lens extends outwardly beat their outer ends with resilient holding books 22, adapted for detachable engagement with the frame 11, as shown.

In operation, the outer less intense rays of light pass unobstructed or substantially unobstructed through'the annular portion 14 of the lens exteriorly of the translucent colored plate or glass 13, while the intense rays of light, which produce the glare or blinding, effect, pass through the central point of the lens and through the imperforate translucent colored plate or glass 13, whereby this glare or blinding effect is removed or eliminated, without perceptibly dimming the light. This efiect is believed to be obtained by the fact that the colored translucent plate or glass will soften the intens rays of light passing therethrough and through the central point of the lens, but not obstructing their passage, as would be the case with an opaque glass. It is thus seen that the headlights, equipped with my improved means, may burn to produce the maximum amount of light, without the glare or blinding effect ordinarily produced by such headlights. It is also obvious that by the use of my means the ordinary dimmer-door is dispensed with, which is employed to dim or reduce the volume of the light. My means simply removes the glare or blinding effect from the light without perceptibly dimming the same.

\Vhile I have shown the translucent colored glass or plate as circular, which is the preferred shape, yet the invention is not restricted to this precise shape, as the same may be formed in various shapes with some degree of success, as triangular, square, starshaped or the like. It is to be further understood that various changes may be made in the means for holding the translucent colored plate or glass in place, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what I claim is 1. lhe combination with the lens of a headlight, of a relatively small translucent colored plate arranged adjacent the central portion of the lens to cover the central point thereof with the lens extending radially outwardly beyond the translucent colored plate for a substantial distance, a frame holding the translucent colored plate. radially extending elements connected with the frame, and a longitudinally extensible and yieldable holding annular member adapted to be arranged upon the body portion of the headlight and having connection with the radially extending elements.

2. Thecombination with a headlight. having a lens, of an imperforate translucent colored plate having a smaller diameter than the lens and arranged near and substantially centrally of the lens in advance of the source of light With said lens extending uncovered radially beyond the colored plate for a substantial distance, whereby the blinding rays oi light from the source of light pass through the translucent colored plate and the other rays of light pass substantially unobstructed about the translucent colored plate through the outer portion of the lens, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a headlight. having a lens, of a relatively small imperforate translucent colored plate arranged near and substantially centrally of the lens in advance of the source of light with the lens extending uncovered radially beyond the colored plate for a substantial distance. whereby the blinding rays of light from the source of light pass through the translucent colored plate and the other rays of light pass substantially unobstructed about the translucent colored plate through the outer por-' tion of the lens, and means to hold the colored plate in the proper position with respect to the lens without perceptibly obstructing the passage of the light through the lens exteriorly of the colored plate.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARL LIGHTFOOT.

Witnesses EARL ROY, HARRY KYLE. 

